The Effect of Sulfated Zirconia and Zirconium Phosphate Nanocomposite Membranes on Fuel-Cell Efficiency

Abstract

To investigate the effect of acidic nanoparticles on proton conductivity, permeability, and fuel-cell performance, a commercial Nafion® 117 membrane was impregnated with zirconium phosphates (ZrP) and sulfated zirconium (S-ZrO2) nanoparticles. As they are more stable than other solid superacids, sulfated metal oxides have been the subject of intensive research. Meanwhile, hydrophilic, proton-conducting inorganic acids such as zirconium phosphate (ZrP) have been used to modify the Nafion® membrane due to their hydrophilic nature, proton-conducting material, very low toxicity, low cost, and stability in a hydrogen/oxygen atmosphere. A tensile test, water uptake, methanol crossover, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to assess the capacity of nanocomposite membranes to function in a fuel cell. The modified Nafion® membrane had a higher water uptake and a lower water content angle than the commercial Nafion® 117 membrane, indicating that it has a greater impact on conductivity. Under strain rates of 40, 30, and 20 mm/min, the nanocomposite membranes demonstrated more stable thermal deterioration and higher mechanical strength, which offers tremendous promise for fuel-cell applications. When compared to 0.113 S/cm and 0.013 S/cm, respectively, of commercial Nafion® 117 and Nafion® ZrP membranes, the modified Nafion® membrane with ammonia sulphate acid had the highest proton conductivity of 7.891 S/cm. When tested using a direct single-cell methanol fuel cell, it also had the highest power density of 183 mW cm−2 which is better than commercial Nafion® 117 and Nafion® ZrP membranes.

Role of Defects of Carbon Nanomaterials in the Detection of Ovarian Cancer Cells in Label-Free Electrochemical Immunosensors

“…Those stretching bands arose from -C=O stretching, indicating the presence of carboxylic acid on the surface of CBNs after the acid treatment [ 37 ]. In the 50AuNPs@carbon composite, nafion characteristic vibration peaks at 3251 cm −1 were the intensity of -O-H stretching vibration, which corresponds to physically adsorbed water [ 42 ]. The peak at 1630 cm −1 as -O-H bending vibration of free water molecules, whereas the band at 1014 cm −1 represents symmetric -S-O stretching [ 43 ].…”

The Overlooked Potential of Sulfated Zirconia: Reexamining Solid Superacidity Toward the Controlled Depolymerization of Polyolefins

“…SZrO was patented in 1962, and by 1979, it had gained attention as a low-temperature hydrocarbon isomerization agent. , More specifically, SZrO has found industrial use as a fuel-upgrading catalyst, as it can efficiently increase the octane number of gasoline via paraffin isomerization. SZrO’s uses also extend to numerous industries (e.g., pharmaceutical, fine chemical synthesis, biomass conversion), a variety of acid and redox reactions (e.g., alkylation, benzylation, condensation, acylation, esterification, methanol reduction, Fischer–Tropsch conversions), and even fuel-cells and photoluminescence. ,,, SZrO’s worth in oligomerization and cracking reactions has already been demonstrated, though the strong acid sites needed to catalyze these reactions are rapidly deactivated by coking and hydration. Thus, SZrO is primarily employed in forms where its strongest acid sites have been deactivated or replaced with a high density of weaker Brønsted acid sites. ,, Nonetheless, SZrO’s weaker acid sites are still strong enough to catalyze numerous reactions at impressively mild temperatures and pressures.…”

“…SZrO's uses also extend to numerous industries (e.g., pharmaceutical, fine chemical synthesis, biomass conversion), a variety of acid and redox reactions (e.g., alkylation, benzylation, condensation, acylation, esterification, methanol reduction, Fischer− Tropsch conversions), and even fuel-cells and photoluminescence. 50,57,133,156 SZrO's worth in oligomerization and cracking reactions has already been demonstrated, though the strong acid sites needed to catalyze these reactions are rapidly deactivated by coking and hydration. Thus, SZrO is primarily employed in forms where its strongest acid sites have been deactivated or replaced with a high density of weaker Brønsted acid sites.…”

Quarternized polysulfone/ZSM‐5 zeolite composite anion exchange membrane separators for aluminum‐air battery

“…The alkaline stability of the membranes was determined by soaking the membrane in an alkaline solution then determining the IC every 24 h for 7 days. [30][31][32]…”